Traitor Movie Review Summary

Actors:Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui, Neal McD

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Traitor

This is the story about a guy who infiltrates an Islamic terrorist group on behalf of an independent intelligence contractor, working in secret for the U.S. government. Don Cheadle plays the lead character of Samir Horn. He is American but has a Sudanese heritage. He is a Muslim. His mother is from USA. His father was from Sudan. When he was a young boy, he witnessed a car bomb explosion, which killed his dad. Because he was a U.S. citizen, he was able to join the U.S. Army where he was in the Special Forces sent to Afghanistan. They trained him in the use of explosives. After his tour of duty was over, he staed in Afghanistan. He joins the Islamic radical brotherhood. He becomes an arms dealer. He goes to Yemen.
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The FBI, working with Yemeni police, has a house under surveillance, used by a terrorist group. Samir is arrested in a raid, which occurs when he is selling explosives to the terrorists. FBI agents Max Archer (played by Neal McDonough) and Roy Clayton (played by Guy Pearce) question him. He is sent to Yemeni prison with one of the men not killed in the raid, named Omar (played by Sadi Taghmaoui). At first, Omar does not trust him, even blames him for the arrests calling him a traitor. However, after some time in prison together, they become friends. They escape prison with the help of others outside. They go to France where the terrorist group makes plans to attack U.S. targets. Samir suggests they attack the U.S. Embassy in Nice, France. It is being remodeled so there are few people working there. Samir enters as a construction worker, plants a bomb in the U.S. embassy in Nice, France, which he detonates after he leaves the building. It kills eight people. The terrorists are elated. Samir pretends he is upset because only eight people died, but in reality, he is very upset any people were killed.

Later he meets with his handler Carter (played by Jeff Daniels). Samir complains to Carter about the deaths. Carter says he brought two corpses from the morgue to the embassy as planned, but some construction workers stayed late. Those deaths were accidental. Samir is deep undercover working for an independent contractor, which was hired by the U.S. government to infiltrate terrorist groups. The FBI continues to pursue Samir because they are not aware of his true mission.

Because of the success of the embassy bombing, Samir is invited to participate in a plan to bomb fifty buses in Chicago. Samir enters the US through Canada. Omar comes through Mexico. They meet in Chicago. The FBI gets a lead on Samir from the person they arrest, who launders money for the terrorist group. Carter meets with Samir in secret. Carter tells him to complete the mission so they can catch the elusive terrorist leader of the group named Nathir (played by Raad Rawi). Samir does not want to be part of any plot, which actually kills people. Carter tells him to remember he works for them. Samir says he works for God.

Samir is almost caught by the FBI. Clayton corners him in the basement of a building. Samir takes Clayton's weapon away from him. Instead of killing Clayton, Samir knocks him unconscious. The FBI agents do not understand why he would do such a thing. Carter and Samir have another meeting in a parking lot. Carter tells him, it is time for him to get out. Omar drives up while they are meeting. In order not blow their cover; Samir and Carter appear to fight. Carter runs away, Samir shoots at him, coming very close, but missing him on purpose. Omar shoots Carter, killing him. The terrorists think Samir is a snitch. They are ready to kill him until he appears on the FBI's most-wanted list after the agents discover Carter's dead body. Samir is able to get an email to Clayton telling them to find him on a ship in Halifax.

On the cargo ship, bound for Yemen, Samir shoots the terrorist leader Nathir. Meanwhile, the martyrs are on the buses they were instructed to take by Samir. They stand up and shout for Allah, detonating their bombs, not realizing until it is too late they are all on the same bus. The FBI agents board the cargo ship. Samir and Omar are fighting. FBI agents shoot Omar, killing him. Samir is injured in the crossfire but not killed. Later, Samir gets out of the hospital. Clayton tells him he is a hero, but Samir is sad for the innocent people who died and goes to a mosque to pray.

Best part of story, including ending:
I like the plot twist when we find out Samir is working undercover, because up until that moment he has been a very convincing terrorist.

Best scene in story:
The best scene is when all the terrorists stand up in the same bus and blow each other to pieces. It is a very good moment.

Opinion about the main character:
Even though Samir tries to avoid killing, circumstances force him to be part of operations where people are killed. This makes me feel sorry for him.